Lentil Stew (Bolivia)

Note: The lazy way is to put everything EXCEPT lentils into the blender and pulse it a few times pour the whole mix into the pot with lentils and let it cook for 1 hour until soft.

Prep time: 1 hour
leftovers: this is your 5 min meal where you heat and add to rice, taco, crepe, pita bread filling etc be creative.



Lentil Stew

* 1 large onion, chopped finely
* 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
* 1 bell pepper, chopped finely
* 4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped (divided)
* 1/2 bunch cilantro,finely chopped
* 1 cup dried lentils
* 1 tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
* salt, pepper
* water
Sofrito or Recaito (as directed on bottle)
chicken bouillion or sazon goya to taste.
1/2 a turkey leg cut in big chunks (remove after everythign's cooked)
optional:
* 1 teaspoon smoked dried hot pepper, ground
(chipotles for a very spicy meal, or Chile Ancho for a milder aji)

Sarsa(salsa)

* 1 medium tomato, julienned
* 1/2 sweet onion, sliced thin
* 1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
* 1 lime, juice of
* salt

** I personally like store bought salsa.

Directions

Sarsa (salsa)
Mix ingredients, and set aside, The longer it sits, the more the lime juice infuses everything with flavor

To cook the lentils:.
Put lentils and turkey leg in a saucepan, cover with water.

Add salt, 1/2 garlic clove and oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 20 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Drain and remove the garlic. Set aside.

While the lentils are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan.

Fry the garlic and the parsley on medium heat until the garlic is golden. Add the chopped onion until the onions become shiny (this means they're cooked but not yet golden).

Add the ground hot pepper and a splash of water. Let it cook for 1 minute. Keep stirring. Add the chopped tomatoes, 1/4 cup of water, salt and pepper.

Cover and cook 25 mintues at low-medium heat.

Add lentils and mix with sauce.
Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Serve with white or brown rice and top with 1-2 spoons of sarsa(salsa).

*Vegetarian recipe just skip the meat. The original recipe did not have of turkey that I discovered one day after I accidentally put a big piece of turkey into the wrong pot thinking it was the soup pot so at dinner time this stew was the tastiest dish and no doubt the turkey leg helped.